Associations Between Changes in Loneliness and Social Connections, and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Women's Health Initiative.
Joseph S GoveasRoberta M RayNancy Fugate WoodsJoAnn E MansonCandyce H KroenkeYvonne L MichaelAladdin H ShadyabJaymie R MelikerJiu-Chiuan ChenLisa JohnsonCharles MoutonNazmus SaquibJulie WeitlaufJean Wactawski-WendeMichelle NaughtonSally ShumakerGarnet L AndersonPublished in: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences (2022)
Loneliness increased during the pandemic in older women and was associated with higher stress, depressive, and anxiety symptoms. Our findings point to opportunities for interventions targeting lifestyle behaviors, well-being, disrupted social connections, and paying closer attention to those with specific medical and mental health histories that may reduce loneliness and improve mental health.